Corn-husking machine



S. E. AND W. W. MORRL.

CORN HUSKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILEUJAN. 2, 1919.

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SEL E. MORI' AND WILLIAM W. MORRAL, 0F MOBRL, @25110.

. CORN-HUSKZING MACHINE.

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his invention relates to corn husking machines and is an improvement of the type of machine disclosed in'lPatent No. 1,121,937, issued to us December 22, 19111.

The object of the invention is to provide improved husking rollers adapted for use in machines of the type disclosed in the above cited patent and which may also be used in other types of corn husking machines by making suitable modifications of the general construction and arrangement of the 1mproved rollers, however, without departing l from the principle of the invention.

The particular novelty of ourimproved husking rollers consists in associating or combining a roller having a plain surface with a roller provided with a spiral groove extending substantially the entire length thereof ata suitable pitch and depth to provide for theremoval of incidental obstructing matter, such as pieces of c ob, husks or foreign matt-er of any kind which would otherwise collect in the bite of the rollers p and act to prevent the proper functioning thereof.

The plain roller having the smooth surface may consist of a rubber covered shaft or, as shown in the drawings of the present construction, may be made entirely of metal. The roller provided with the spiral groove is,of course, made of metal, the spirals being cut or formed therein in any suitable manner.

In the ordinary use of our improved rollers we have found that spirals approximately fg inch wide and inch deep and having about one inch pitch or lead give very satisfactory results. However, these dimensions may be varied to suit the conditions of the material and the work.

The corn husking machine is disclosed and described in our issued patent above referred to and it will be necessary only therey Specification' of Letters Patent.

' Patented Mar., 2Q?, 1921i.

Application filed January 2, 1919. Serial No. 269,238.

fore to illustrate andldescribe the particular parts of the machine with which the mproved rollers are ydirectly connected and operated.

In the disclosed form of application of the lnventlon two sets of husking rollers are employed, one set rough husking rollers to which the ears of corn are first' presented after the same have passed through the butting mechanism and which acts to tear loose the husks and remove the greater portion thereof, and a second set of finishing rollers which acts to remove any husks or silk re- :naming on the ears of corn after they have been operated on by the first set of rollers. rIhe spiral grooves may be applied to one roller of each set or to one roller of one set only, as may be desired. In the preferred arrangement, however, one roller of each set is provided with the spiral groove.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View, taken through the upper portion of a machine, such as is disclosed in our patent above referred to and showing the position of the husking rollers therein;

Fig. 2 is a detail plan view of one pair ofthe husking rollers to which the present invention has been applied;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the other pair of husking rollers to which the invention has been applied.

The husking machine is supported on a suitable main frame comprising side members 1 connected one to the other by transverse bars 2 having mounted thereon spacing sleeves 3 arranged between the side members 1. This main frame is supported by standards 4 which are Secured to the respective side members 1'by means of the bars 2 and are mounted at their lower ends upon transversely extending supporting blocks or bases (not shown) which serve to tie together the legs of each pair, that is, the two legs at each end of the machine. rIhe legs are further tiedtogether by longitudi nallv extending side members which are bolted to the legs on the opposite sides of 5 mounted on a shaft 6 extending transversely to the main frame and journaled in bearings supported on the main frame. suitable supporting table or bed plate 7 1s arranged with an edge adjacent to the cutter and the ears of corn are fed over this table toward the cutter by suitable feeding mechanism which, in the present construction, comprises an endless carrier consisting of two Sprocket chains 8 arranged on opposite sides of the supporting table and extending about sprocket wheels 9 carried by a shaft 10 journaled inthe main frame and other sprocket wheels 11 mounted on a shaft 12 journaled in the frame at the other end of the supporting table. This feeding mechanism may be driven in any suitable manner, but preferably by an arrangement of chain and sprocket connections such as is shown in the patent referred to, the power being transmitted to the machine from any suitable source through a belt wheel 13.

Suitable ear-engaging devices are secured to the sprocket chains at intervals arranged to extend above the supporting table and at substantially right angles to the line of movement of thev ears of corn. Preferably these devices are in the form of rollers 14 extending transversely between the sprocket chains and supported in any suit-able manner to be carried forward over the supporting table lwith the travel of the chains. The rollers are supported at a distance above the chains to cause the same to engage the ears of corn at the proper distance above the table.

Means are provided for moving the ears of corn transversely to the supporting table and into a position to be engaged by the cutter disk 5. This means, as here shown, consists of a roller 15 extending longitudinally to the table and so arrangedlas to engage the upper surface of the ears and positively move the same toward that side of the supporting table adjacent to the cutter 5. The lateral movement of the ears is limited by guides which act to permit the tapered ends of the e-ars to pass between them, but engage the buttslof the ears and thus check the lateral movement thereof. Suitable means, such as are disclosed in our patent referred to are provided for properly presenting the ears to the cutting by means of which the butts are severed from the ears and the ears are then carried forward by the chain mechanism over the end of the machine and delivered to the first pair of husking rollers, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

In the present construction, we'V have shown the corn husking mechanism as supported from the main frame. at a point beneath the butt-removing mechanism. 'We have also shown a chute or guideway 16 leading from the butt-removing devices to bers of the main mechanism,

the husking devices and the rollers'l4 coacting with the chute acting as a positive feed mechanism, whereby the ears of corn are delivered to the husklng mechanism.

rThe husking mechanism, as here shown, consists of a plurality of -pairs of husking rollers, the rollers of each pair being operated in opposite directions so that they will pinch the husks between them and pull them from the ears. ln the present instance, we have employed two pairs of these rollers 17-18 and 19-20, respectively. The two central rollers or the inner roller of each pair, are journaled in plates 21 which are rigidly secured to and depend from the main frame. The outer rollers are journaled in plates 22 which are pivotally connected at their upper ends to the opposite side memframe and are resiliently connected at their lower ends to the plate 21; this connection preferably comprising in each instance a bolt 23 supporting a spring 26 confined between a lug 24 and nut 25. The tension of the spring tends to 'hold the outermost roller in contact with the innermost roller of each pair, but permits the rollers to move apart sufficiently to allow the husks to pass between the same. In this manner a strong gripping act-ion is secured between the rollers without liability of choking the rollers with husks or other material passing between them.

The husking rollers may, of course, be of any suitable construction, but in the construction h'ere shown, in order to elfectually apply our present invention, one roller of each pair is preferably rnade of metal and is provided with spiral grooves 27 and 28, respectively. The opposite roller of each pair may be made .of iron shafts covered with rubber, as disclosed in our earlier invention referred to. However, in view of the improved rollers of the present invention these rollers may valso be made of metal which is cheaper and more durable than the rubber covered rollers.

The rst pair of rollers comprising the rollers 17 and 18 are provided, respectively, with annular grooves 29 and oppositely disposed toothed disks or stary wheels 30; the spaces between the annular grooves on the roller 17 being traversed by sections of a spiral groove 27 and the spaces between the star wheels 30 on the roller 18 consisting of smooth portions 18a. It will be apparentv` that the toothed disks will tear and loosen the husks on the ears of corn in such a manner as to enable the rollers to more readily grip and remove the same from the ears. The rollers 17 and 18 are further provided at one end 'with intermeshing. toothed disks 31 which are adapted to engage the tips of the ears and tear the husks loose therefrom. The rollers are journaled in plates 21 and 22 and have arranged be- Levage? tween the inner faces of the plates and. the ends of the rollers collars 32.

The second pair of rollers 19 and 20 consist of the roller 19 which, as'shown in the present construction, is formed' of metal having a smooth cylindrical surface extending substantially the entire length thereof.v

rlhe opposite roller 20 is also made of metal and has formed in the surface thereof and extending the entire length of the roller the spiral 28. rlhese rollers act to remove any portion of husks and silk from the ears of corn which may remain thereon after the ears have been operated on by the first pair of rollers.

The spiral grooves 27 and 28 act to engage and carry od pieces of husks, cobs, butts or obstructive matter of any kind which may be upon the rollers incident to the husking operations and serve to preventl such matter entering the bite of the rollers and obstructv ing or interferin with the proper functioningthereof. he spiralgrooves act to carry off such obstructing matter as fast as it may develop on the rollers. Thus, the rollers are kept clear and their proper operation is in no wise interfered with by such obstructing material. Movement may be imparted to the husking rollers in any suitable manner. As shown in our earlier patent the shaft of each roller may extend beyond the supporting plate at one side of the machine, the projecting ends being provided 'with intermeshing gears and one of the shafts, preferably the shaft which carries the roller 17, is provided with a sprocket wheel, about which extends a sprocket chain by means of which the rollers are actuated.

Suitable devices are arranged above the husking rollers of each pair to engage the ears of corn .and hold the same in engagement with the husking rollers and to rotate the ears While in engagement withthe rollers. These devices preferably consist of rotary brushes 33, one of which is supported above each pair of husking rollers and preferably having its axis arranged .between the verticalplanes of the axes of the two husking rollers constituting a pair. In

order that the rotarybrushes may adapt themselves to ears of corn of varying size and may exert a uniform pressure thereon, they are so mounted as to be capable of limited vertical movement. rlhis arrangement also serves to cause the brushes to remove silk and loose husks from .the ears more e'ectively Any suitable mechanism may be employed for this purpose, a preferred form being disclosed anddescribed in our patent referred to herein.

Inasmuch as the ears of corn vary in length and all the ears have been moved to the opposite side of the machine in order that the butts may be removed therefrom itis desirable that means should be provided for moving the ears toward those ends of the rollers havin the toothed disks. 31,. thereby enabling these disks to engage the tip of the ears. Such mechanism may consist of-two tapered rollers 34; and the means for operating lthe same, as disclosed in our earlier construction. i However, the improvements of the present invention make the use of the tapered rollers unnecessary as the spiral 'grooves of one roller of each pair act to engage the husks of the ears of corn, thereby advancing the ears along the rollers into contact with the toothed disks 'Suitable means arealso rovided for removing the silk and bits o husk from the.

husking rollers. rllhis means preferably comprises a plurality of rotary brushes 35, one for each roller, which may be operated by connecting the same to the operating mechanism for the husking rollers or in any suitable manner.

lt is, of course, obvious that the improved husln'ng rollers provided with the spiral grooves will operate equally e'ectively whether the ears of corn are moved transversely across the rollers, as in the construcy tion here shown, or moved longitudinally of the rollers, as may be provided in a modilied arrangement of the rollers and the feeding mechanism therefor.

rllhe endless feed belt which has conveyed the ears of corn through the butt removing mechanism, through the chute and across the husking rollers, also serves to deliver the husked corn through a chute 36 into a receptacle or into a suitable conveyer as may be desired. rl`he husks drop from the husking rollers onto an endless belt conveyer (not shown), dis osed beneath the husking rollers and are dellvered thereby to a suitable distance from the machine. rllhe butts severed y 'mechanism are fed to the husking devices and are positively moved into a position to be properly acted upon thereby; that the ears will be held in engagement with the husking rollers and rotated during the husking operation without bruising the grains of corn or injuring the ears; that the husking rollers will maintain a strong, gripping action on the husks, but will move apart to permit the passage of the husks, v avoiding the choking of the .rollers with the husks; that the spiral grooves thus iat

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of one of -the'huslring rollers of each pair will act to engage and remove pieces of obstructing material of any kind which may be upon the rollers and thus prevent such material entering the bite of the rollers and interfering with the proper functioning thereof; and that the rollers and the huskloosening vdevices will be freed from any husks or silk which may adhere. thereto. 1t will further be apparent that the machine as a whole is of a very compact arrangement and is simple in its construction and operation.

lt will further be noted that the removal of the butt of the ears of corn serves'to loosen the husks thereon and thus facilitate the action of the husking mechanism when the ears have been fed to the latter.

While we have here shown one form of our invention we wish it to be understood that this form is chosen for the purpose of illustration only, and we do not desire to be limited to the details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In husking rollers, the combination, with a plurality of pairs of rollers comprising a pair of rough husking rollers and a pair of finishing rollers coacting therewith, means to deliver ears of corn from one to the other of said rollers; one member of the rough husking rollers beihg provided with a plurality of toothed devices spaced apart on said roller, and a toothed device secured to one end of said roller, the other member of the rough husking rollers beingprovided with annular grooves corresponding in number t0 and coacting with said spaced toothed devices, the portion of the roller be-' tween said grooves being traversed by a spiral groove, and a toothed device secured `to, one end of said roller and coacting with the toothed device secured to the end of the opposite roller; said finishing rollers being adapted to coact with the rough husking rollers to complete the husking of the corn.

2. ln husking rollers, the combination, with a plurality of pairs of rollers comprising a pair of rough husking rollers and a pair of finishing rollers coactin therewith, means todeliver ears of corn rom one to the other of said rollers; one member of the rough husking rollers being provided with a plurality of toothed devices spaced apart on said roller, and a toothed device secured to one end of said roller, the other member of the rough husking roller. being provided with annular grooves corresponding in number to and coacting with said spaced toothed devices, a toothed device secured to one end of said roller and coacting with the toothed device secured to the end of the opposite roller,"said finishing rollers coacting with the rough husking rollers to complete the husking of the corn and having a spiral groove in one member thereof to prevent lodgment of obstructive matter in the bite of said rollers.

3. 1n husking rollers, the combination,` with a plurality of pairs of rollers comprising a pairof rough husking rollers, one member of which is provided with a plurality of toothed devices spaced apart on said roller having a toothed member secured to one end'of sald roller, the other member of said pair of rollers being provided with annular grooves corresponding in number to and coacting with said plurality of toothed devices, the portions of the roller between the annular grooves being traversed by a spiral groove andhaving secured to one end of said roller a toothed member coacting with the first-named toothed member, and a pair of finishing rollers coacting with said first pair of rollers, one' member of which is provided with a plain surface extending substantially the entire length thereof, and the other member having a spiral groove therein acting to prevent obstructive matter rollers. r

4. In husking rollers, a pair of rollers, one member of which is provided with a plurality of toothed devices spaced apart on said roller and a toothed member secured to one end of said roller, the other member of said pair of rollers being provided with annular grooves corresponding in number to and coacting with said plurality of toothed devices, the portions of the roller between the annular grooves being traversed by a spiral groove and having secured toone end of said roller a toothed member coacting with the first-named toothed member.

5.1n husking rollers, a pair of rollers, one member of which is provided with a plurality of toothed devices spaced apart on said rollers, the other member of said pair of rollers being provided with annular grooves corresponding in number to and coacting with saidplurality of toothed devices, the portion of the roller between the annular grooves being traversed by a spiral groove.

6. In a husking device, a pair of coactin rollers, one of said rollers beingy provided with toothed devices adapted to engage the husks of ears of corn` moving over said rollers; the other roller being provided with annular grooves coperating with said toothed devices and having a spiral groove adapted to engage said husks, thereby acting to move the ears of corn longitudinally of the rollers into engagement with the toothed devices and to prevent lodgment of obstructive matter in the bite of the rollers.

7. ln a husking device, huskng rolls conlodging in the bite of thel sisting of a plain surface roll and a roll proed to vContact with said plain roll throughvded with -spiral grooves of substantial out the Width of said surface.

Width extending entirely around the 'same In testimony whereof, We affix our sigl@ and throughout its length, the Width of the natures.

surface of said roll between said grooves being greater than the Width of said grooves SAMUEL E. MORRAL.

and the surface between said grooves adapt- WILMIAM W. MORRAL. 

